Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-03-20

gloom that had oppressed him for weeks.
He was p~sionately fond Of music. In
earlier days he himself had been an anna
teur singer Of no common ability. A ia
nous prima donna was singing in opera in
Chesterton this very week, On the even
ing that day Norma was to be given. 1t
was one of hir old favoriteS. Tender MEM
Dries were Joined with il for him. 1t was
at performance of Norma he first met
his wife. Through twenty-five years Of
happy life that night smiled back on him.
What n lily OF a girl his Alice was then,
in her white dress and white gloves, with
flowers in her hair. Not at all like Shirley.
Their daughter was of a stronger mold
and he was glad of it, perhaps, but II ever
there was a flower maiden on earth, his
sweet Alice had been one If ever wife
was faithful, tender, and loving the Hover
maiden had been so TO him. How happy,
thrice happy, she had made him. His lot
had been blessed above that Of common
men. he smiled as he thought OF all this
The airs in the fine old composition were
Colonel Carstone's especial fayorltes, ana
they were enchantingly sung. He listened
like a bird to catch each golden note, and
smiled with eQuislte happfnss, as the sweet,
| well remembered strains ilOated to his ear
1t was the opening Of the season. Inc
audience Was q brilliant one. hunuIeus
| of refined and cultured musical people had
Gathered To give warm greeting TO tneir
priced singers. The ladies were IN Ignt,
fower-like dresses, fairly rivahng the love
illness of natures own blossoms, likewise
scattered there in profusion. The hgnts
shone like stars. The air WAS sweet Win
perfume and melody. The scene Was hAe
a fairy garden. Not n who was there
ever forgot 1t.
In one Of the pauses Of the noble music
4 hush like the breath of night Tell on the
| ,reat audience. They were still till almost
"A heart beat could ne heard.
Into the midst of ~thisIexquisite silence,
| after the strain OF celestial melody, O blood
/ curdling cry broke. A man Was seen 70
| fall forward. 1t Was Colonel CarStone. lie
had been stricken dead in n moment
Examination revealed that.he had re-
ceived a fatal brain injury from the fall IN
| the State Line road months before. The
wonder was he had lived so long.
lneN LOOk Ills bOug hpLhC W '"N -
house. Death had conquered. Never again
| would the busy brain work and the strong
arm he lifted 10 protect his own. Never,
| though they die of hunger, OF be driven
| out homeless. Though their innocent blood
,rv 10 heaven, that which lies there in the
coffin will not hear. ,
Yet Death, the victor, laid his hand
! lightly upon the dead man. The marble
| like countenance took on u beauty, a no.
J bleneSs, yea, a majesty, that glorliIed II
beyond any eOmliness the face OF the nv
Ing man ever wore. II WAS 50 grand a beauty
that even the rustic neighbOrS noted 1t,
and spoke of it years alterward. Whatever
was good i n his nature lay revealed, uIdlS-
turbed longer by passion or weakness.
| Death the Destroyer was Death the Beau-
titier.
So Thomas CarstOne slept with his tG'
Tiers.
We'll" said Mis- Simpkins, "he had an
| insurance OF $40, 900 on his life, and every
thing comfortable about him tie was
prepared To lie"
Was it from the clouds the voice seemed
tO come to Shirley:
Take care Of your mother, Shirley.
| Take care of them all.